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NEW YORK (Reuters) – For Novak Djokovic, a season that has had a sluggish start to the season will end brilliantly after sacking Juan Martin Del Potro 6-3 7-6 (4) 6-3 to win the US Open Sunday and win consecutive Grand Slam titles.
September 9, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the championship trophy after his match against Argentina's Juan Mart'n Del Potro (not pictured) in the men's day 14 final of the US Open 2018 tennis tournament at the USTA National Tennis Center Billie Jean King. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Coming back from the elbow surgery that he suffered after the Australian Open, Djokovic was not expecting to figure on the Grand Slam scene this season.
But over the past eight weeks, the 31-year-old has looked like the Grand Slam machine that held all four major titles at the same time in 2016, winning three of his last four events, including Wimbledon and US Open. .
"If you had told me in February of this year that I would be operated on, I would win Wimbledon, the US Open and Cincinnati, that would be hard to believe," said Djokovic, after pushing his total of 14 Grand Slams. with Pete Sampras on the list of all time.
"Life has shown that it takes time for good things, that it takes time to really build them, to get things in place.
"The last two months have been great."
The sixth-seeded had suffered fierce heat and humidity in the first days of the season's Grand Slam, but lost only two sets for the tournament and none since the second round.
Playing on the same pitch where Sampras won his 14th and last Grand Slam final, Djokovic had more disappointment than joy over Arthur Ashe, winning three titles in eight finals.
All this frustration was swept away when he hit the winner to win the victory over Del Potro, Djokovic falling on his back, arms and legs apart while savoring the moment.
"Pete Sampras is one of the greatest legends in history," Djokovic explained. "It was my idol of childhood.
"It's very important for me to be shoulder to shoulder now with Grand Slam victories with him.
"It's really amazing when you think about it. I saw him win one of his first Wimbledon championships, and I grew up playing and thinking that someday I will be able to do what he does.
"To be really there, it's a dream come true."
Djokovic and Del Potro entered the field of Arthur Ashe stadium with the national tennis center Billie Jean King, still in the controversial final on Saturday, won by the Japanese Naomi Osaka.
Britain's Alison Hughes, the second woman to referee an American men's singles final, kept a low profile while the two former champions were at work.
The tension and fireworks of the Osaka-Williams clash were ignored in a relatively quiet base battle between two friends and familiar enemies who had clashed 18 times.
While the win was a joyous one, there was no victory over Del Potro, who is suffering the pain of a comeback after four wrist surgeries that made him miss 14 Grand Slam tournaments.
The only Del Potro Grand Slam title was held at the 2009 US Open and he said it was a moving return to the Flushing Meadows Finals.
"I am very sad to be a loser today, but Novak deserved to win the trophy," said Del Potro, who cried in his hands before being comforted by Djokovic.
"I was playing almost the limit all the time, looking for winners with my forehands and backhands, and I could not do it because Novak was there every time.
"The worst for me are the odds that I could not win, but when you see a friend holding the trophy, that's good too.
"I'm happy that Novak is the champion."
Edited by Ian Ransom / Peter Rutherford
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